Violent crime in Philadelphia down across board; police commissioner say work is not done

now the details here at 5:30 the most violent crimes such as homicides are down significantly this year in Philadelphia while that's encouraging news other unlawful acts in the city are trending in the wrong direction Police Commissioner Kevin bethl talking one-on-one with action news today about the turn in crime action news reporter Chad pelli joining us live here in studio with that story Chad yeah gray in my exclusive interview the commissioner applauds the work the men and women in blue are doing and looks to improve on those crime numbers next year after years of eye openening crime the tide appears to be turning in Philadelphia homicides plummeting 35% 261 to date the lowest in a decade shootings down 36% robberies dipping 18 we're showing that we can uh uh uh be a better City and I'm hoping that carries into 2025 in an exclusive sitdown Interview police commissioner Kevin bethl calls the violent crime numbers a great start under bethl and mayor Charelle Parker some say there's a new sense of emerging Law and Order In The City the commissioner says it's impossible to pinpoint a cause for the decline but it reinforces his focus on high crime areas we have a large city um and we have 20 Patrol districts but many many areas of the this city do not experience violence I mean it's it's one of the the country's greatest success stories in terms of declining murder Jeff Asher is a crime analyst and consultant who researches National Crime Trends he says finding a main driver for the declining crime is difficult but moving past the pandemic and social unrest after George Floyd are likely factors among many I think it might just be as simple as everyday American life has returned to normal and so you're seeing a little bit of aversion to the mean retail theft remains a sore spot up 21% but bethl says the increase is partly attributable to more reporting as his department and the District Attorney's task force work with retailers he expects retail theft crime to move lower in the years ahead we're getting convictions now um and we're building a better rapport with our business community and among the Commissioners goals for next year increase Staffing develop a digitized record system and improve life in Kensington all right Chad thanks for the update